Cockroaches

Some bugs get a bad rap. Take spiders, for example. As creepy-crawly as they are, spiders are very helpful residents. They eat mosquitos and other insects that can be harmful to you and your home. Roaches, however, are not so helpful.

Roaches are attracted to your garbage, so they tend to spread really scary things like Salmonella and Shigella throughout your home. As if that’s not bad enough, they leave little trails of fecal matter wherever they go, and they use them to find their way around. Those trails can leave stains and odors all over your home. Many people are allergic to the proteins found in cockroach saliva. This is just one kind insect you do not want in your home.

There are several habits to get into to prevent, or at the very least to not provoke, a roach infestation. The most important thing is cleanliness. For starters, don’t let your trash build up to the point where it would attract roaches and other bugs and wash dishes as soon as you’re done with them. Unfortunately, by the time you notice the infestation, it’s probably beyond your control, and you’ll need professional help.

Termites

Termites feast on the wooden structures of homes because they thrive on the cellulose found in the wood. It’s almost impossible to detect them in the early stages of an invasion because they stay outside and burrow into the wood. If left untreated, severe termite infestations can ruin the structural integrity of your home entirely.

The most effective way to prevent termites from destroying a home is done during the construction process. There should be a barrier of at least 18 inches between any wooden foundations and the soil. Older homes that were built before this was standard are usually subjected to chemical treatment of the soil surrounding the home.

Killing these insects can prove to be especially difficult, as they are typically deeply rooted in the home’s structure before they are detected. Termite treatment is available through insecticides and pesticides administered by professionals.

Bed bugs

Well, most of the time when people say that these days, they mean something more along the lines of “sweet dreams,” or “goodnight sleep tight,” or something much more pleasant than the literal bugs. But bed bugs are still a major nuisance, and they are extremely difficult to get rid of once they’ve take up residence in your furniture.

These bugs are especially heinous because they feed on blood, and the actually prefer human blood over other animals. They are mainly active at night, and thrive in plush furniture like mattresses and upholstered easy chairs and couches. There’s no reason to believe that bed bugs carry disease, but the bites can get infected, and are extremely itchy.

To be rid of these intruders, you’ll have to subject the furniture and affected areas of the home to intense steam for a long period of time. Alternatively, putting the furniture outside in temperatures 20 degrees farenheit or colder for a few weeks will do the trick as well. Since these pests tend to migrate from one room to another, it’s best to call in an exterminator to make sure you’ve reached them all.

Protect your home from these intruders and more by arming yourself with knowledge. Know the preliminary signs of a cancerous infestation, and be ready to tackle it head on immediately.